Fuel salvage unit



June 11,1946. `E.V.1=ARK|:R 2,401,880

FUEL sALvAGE UNIT Filed May 25, 1943 5 l l INVNTo ERNEST M PARKER Wma v M J [6L t l Patented June 11, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,401,880 FUEL SALVAGE UNIT Ernest V- Parker,V Oakland, Galif- Applieation May 25, 1943, SeralNo. 488,405

, 4 Claims. l

The invention relates to a means designed for use in a fuel supply line, such as for a Diesel engine, to recover and redeliver the fuel which leaks from the fuel receiving Amembers such as the spray valves and pumps.

An object of the invention is to provide a means of the character described, which will redeliver the leakage fuel to the supply line and automatically cut out in whole or in part the supply from the reservoir While the leakage fuel is being utilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of the character described which will redeliver the leakage fuel to the members from which the fuel has been recovered, without necessitating returning the fuel to the supply reservoir or varying the amount of pressure of the fuel delivered.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide for the recovery and redelivery of the leakage fuel with a very simple means and without entailing any appreciable loss in temperature of the fuel.

The invention 4p ossesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the `foregoing, will be set forth in thev following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanyin g and forming par-t of the specification. vIt is to be understood, however, that variations inthe showing made by the Said ydrawing and description may be adopted'within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a Diesel engine fuel supply system equipped with the means and arranged for use in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the fuel control and distributor member of my invention.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the member shown in Figure 2, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In @Dpatus Such 35 1 Diesel engin?, many parts are arranged to operate with liquid fuel at relatively h igh pressures, and frequently in order to permit smooth and easy operation of such parts, it is expedient to permit a certain amount of fuel leakage from the parts. Such leakage of course may entail a waste of fuel, and when-the engine is located in a boat, difficulty is met in keeping a clean bilg'e. It was with the object of rectifying the above condition that the present invention was evolved.

Briey my invention as applied to a Diesel en gine fuel delivery line, comprises a fuel control and distributor means which is interposed between the fuel supply reservoir and the fuel receiving members such as the fuel pump and spray valve, and has a drain connection with such members for receiving therefrom the leak- I age fuel, the said means functioning to permit the flow entirely of fresh fuel to said members normally but operating to shut off such flow completely or partially and 'permit the leakage fuel to be redelivered to said members with or without the fresh fuel when the leakage fuel accumulates to a predetermined amount.

A more detailed explanation will now be given.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the means of my invention is incorporated in a fuel supply or delivery line such as for a Diesel engine (not shown) and such line as here shown includes a pipe 1 extending from .a fuel supply tank or reservoir 8, a day tank 9, Va fuel pump I2 having an inlet pipe connection I3 extending from the clay tank, and one or more outlet pipes I4 from the pump to the different fuel spray valves I5 of the engine cylinders, one only of such valves being indicated.

Enclosing the pump I2, or otherwise positioned in relation thereto, las to catch the fuel leaking therefrom, is a casing I1, and likewise associated with the spray valve I5 is a casing I8 for catching the fuel leaking therefrom. These casings are connected with pipes I9 and 2| respectfully, through which the fuel may be drained from the casings and conveyed to a leakage fuel accumulating tank 22. The day tank 9 is located at a relatively high level and preferably the pipe I3 extends downwardly to the pump, so that any fuel in such pipe, whether normal or leakage, will descend to the receiving member or casing associated therewith.

The pipe 1, as will be clear fro-m Figure l, is arranged for operative connection with a pipe 23 leading to the day tank 9 and having therein a transfer pump 20 for forcing the fuel to the tank, thesaid connection between pipes 'I and 23 being effected through. means of a fuel control and distributor member 24 Vwhich is preferably located directly within the leakage fuel accumulator tank 22. Within the member 24 is a passage 25 having its opposite end portions connecting with the inlet and outlet pipes 'I' and 23, and as shown best in Figure 2, such passage includes sections Z'I and 23 connected by an intermediate section 23 and associated respectively with ends of the passage connected to the pipes I and 23.

to flow freely from pipe through the passage sections 2l, 28 and 29, and into the pipe 23. This flow of the fuel is for the normal supply from fuel reservoir 8, and means are provided for automatically cutting olf or reducing such supply and utilizing the leakage fuel in the tank 22 when a predetermined amount of such fuel has drained into and accumulated in the tank 22. Arranged in the tank 22 and secured to the rotatable cam 37 is a float 38 which is secured to the cam in such relation that when the float is in a depressed position in the tank, such as when the leakage fuel is at a low level therein, the high spot of the cam will be presented to the valve stem so that the valve 3| will be kept fully open, but that when the float is in an elevated position in the tank, such as when the leakage fuel is above a certain level, the oat will have rotated the cam to present a depressed portion 39 to the valve stem and thus permit the valve to seat and close the passage against admission of fuel from pipe 1.

The valve 3| and its seat are preferably located in the passage section 21, and in order that the fuel from tank 22 may be introduced into the fuel line and drawn to the fuel receiving members while the valve 3| is closed, a port 4| is provided in the member 24 and arranged to communicate the interior of the tank to the -passage section 29 which connects with the outlet pipe 23. The portv 4| is connected with a pipe 42 which preferably depends to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank 22. A check-valve in the form of a ball i3 is provided at the top of port il and such valve is kept in closed'position when the pressure is maintained in passage 26, such as whenV valve 3| is open, and so prevents entry of the leakage fuel into the passage section 29. On the other hand when valve 3| is moved to closed position, the valve 43 by reason of the fact that the section 29 is on the suction side of the transfer pump 2i), is displaced to open position and theleakage fuel in the tank 22 is drawn upwardly through port l and section 29 and out into pipe 23 for delivery to the day tank in the automatically moved to a sufficiently closed position to cause the suction in line pipe 23 to displace check valve 43 and draw the leakage fuelA from the accumulator tank into pipe 23 along Vwith a, correspondingly reducedramount of fuel from pipe l. Should the leakage fuel become exhausted to a predetermined amount; the float will then drop and cause the valve 3|k to move to fully open position and the check-valve to closed position. The full flow of fuel from the reservoir will then continue until the leakage fuel again accumulates in tank 22.

fresh fuel from the reservoir. It has been found inf practice that. under ordinary conditions the accumulation of fuel in tank 22 is such that the vvalve will be maintained in a semi-closed position, rather than "either a fully closed or open position, and Vin this manner the leakage fuel will be drawn through the member 24 in small amount but continuously with the fuel directly from the reservoir. abnormal amount of leakage fuel is deposited in the tank 22 or the latter becomes practically empty that the valve 3| is moved to fully closed or fully open positions. Y

Preferably a filter 44 is provided in` the drain pipes to insure that only clean fuel is admitted to the accumulator.

In other words, it is only when an summarizing the operation of the fuel delivery 1 cumulator tank. WhenV said level is reached the shut-off valve 3| will by action of the float, be

pump, and a valve operative to close or .It will now be clear that a smooth, uniform, and uninterrupted flow of fuel to the engine will be lassured notwithstanding the periodic introduction of the leakage fuel, the cost of operation of the engine will be materially reduced, the engine and the surrounding surfaces will be kept clean, no expensive or complicated parts are required, and no power is taken from the engine for operating the unit.

I claim:

1. In a liquid fuel salvage system, the com-V bination with' a fuel reservoir and a fuel supply line .including a fuel receiving Ymember and a suction pump interposed between said member and reservoir and having its suction side com-v municating with the reservoir, a liquid receptacle, a pipe between said member and receptacle for draining fuel from vsaid member, fuel control means including a valve in said line between the suction side of the pump and the reservoir,` aY fuel passage from said receptacle to said line between said valve and the pump, a valveinisaid passage designed to move to, close saidpassage, when the pressure in said line exceeds the pres sure in the passage between the valve and-said receptacle and operative` to move to openposition when the pressure differential is reversed, and a device operating to close 0r open said rst valve respectively as th'e level of the fuel in the recepf tacle raises or lowers relative to a predetermined level. Y Y' 2. In a liquid fuel salvage system, the combination with a fuel reservoir and a fuel supply line` including one or more fuel receiving members and a suction pump interposed between 'said-.p

membersrand reservoir and having Yits suction side communicating with the reservoir, a liquid receptacle, a means between said members and receptacle for draining fuel from said members and Vdepositing same into said receptacle, afuelu Vcontrol unit connected in said line and having a passage connecting a portion yof `the line leading to the suction side of said pumpand to the V l' reservoir, a Valve in said passage for controlling the flow of the fuel from the reservoir to the pump, a device in said receptacle operatingto move said valve to closed or open position-in accordance with th'e elevation or recession of the level of the fuel therein relative to a predeter-v mined height, a fuel passage from the receptacle to said first passage between said valve. and open said second passage respectively as the pressure in said first passage becomes greater or lesserf'than the pressure in the second passage between the receptacle and the second valve. .Y 3. In a liquid leakage fuel salvage system,rthe combination with a fuel reservoir and a fuel supply line including one or more fuel receivingl members and a suction pump interposed between said members and reservoir and h'aving its suction lside communicating with the reservoir; afuel control unit having a passage with one end operatively connecting with said reservoir and the other end with said pump, a valve in said passage to control the flow of fuel therethrough from the reservoir, an accumulator receptacle having a drainage connection with' the fuel receiving members, a fuel passage means leading from said receptacle to said unit passage between said valve and the line, a check valve controlling the flow of fuel from said passage means to said unit passage, and a float in said receptacle operative to close or open said valve according to the level of the fuel in the receptacle.

4. In a liquid leakage fuel salvage system, the combination with a fuel reservoir and including a fuel receiving tank and a suction pump nterposed between said tank and reservoir, a liquid receptacle for the accumulation of salvage fuel,

a control member mounted in said receptacle and having separate passage sections one of which is arranged for connection to said reservoir and the other of which is arranged for connection with the suction side of said pump, an intermediate passage section connecting said first passage sections, fuel passage means from said receptacle to the passage section connected to the pump, a check valve in said last mentioned Dase sage means controlling the flow of fuel from said receptacle to said last mentioned passage section, a valve in the passage section connected with the reservoir, and a oat operatively connected with said second valve arranged to effect the opening and closing thereof as th'e level of the fuel in the receptacle recedes and raises.

ERNEST V. PARKER. 

